Photo Albums

The Rotary Club of Middletown hosted its annual Holiday party for families at Lucy’s Hearth on December 13th at the Wyndham Hotel, bringing together Rotary members, Interact Club youth, and our Rotary district leadership for an evening of joy and goodwill. We extend our sincere thanks to Pat Burke and Deanna Conheeney for their unwavering dedication and hard work in orchestrating this successful event once again.

Annual Spaghetti Dinner for Middletown Senior Center held April 17, 2024.

The Island Interact Club brings together motivated young leaders, ages 12-18, who are passionate about making a positive difference in their communities and around the world. Sponsored by the Middletown and Newport Rotary Clubs and facilitated at the Newport County YMCA, this dynamic group fosters leadership, teamwork, and a spirit of service above self. From organizing local initiatives like coat drives to participating in global service projects, the Island Interact Club empowers teens to take action, grow personally, and create lasting change. Enjoy this collection of photos showcasing their incredible energy and commitment to service!

Supporting the Newport Gulls at their June 7th home game by collecting tickets at the door and for the 50/50 raffle.

Absolutely thrilling news about our coat drive! Wickford Appliance proudly served as one of the primary drop-off locations for our inaugural event. On November 9th, the Interact students skillfully adorned one of our large donation boxes, infusing it with creativity and spirit. Incredibly, just six days later, on November 15th, we received an email announcing that the box at Wickford Appliance was already brimming with warmth – it was completely full! This swift and overwhelming response from the community is a testament to the generosity of this community. Picture this: overloaded bags packed snugly into the car, the trunk slowly closing under the weight of generosity. What a sight! With two more weeks left in the coat drive, this early success is a promising sign of the impact we can continue to make. Let's harness this momentum and make our coat drive the best it can be!

On a chilly December Wednesday night, Lucy's Hearth residents were filled with delight. To Johnny’s Restaurant, the trolley did glide, Bringing holiday cheer on a magical ride. A buffet awaited, delicious and grand, With laughter and warmth filling the land. Crafts were made—for candy cane reindeer, and salt dough ornaments painted brightly with care. Christmas trivia brought smiles so bright, But the highlight of all was a magical sight. Santa and Mrs. Claus came to say hi, With gifts in their hands and twinkles in their eyes. As the evening closed, a raffle was spun, Warm coats were gifted, and hearts were won. Thanks to Middletown Rotary and Interact Teens, This holiday party was a heartwarming scene.

The Middletown Rotary Club proudly supported several local organizations in July. We awarded a $500 check to the Newport County YMCA to support the Island Interact Club, a service club for teens. A $500 check was awarded to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center's in support of their Freedom from Hunger Campaign, with the donation being doubled through a matching program. We supported the Middletown Public Library's Children's Summer Reading Program by purchasing over $800 of pet food cans decorated by young readers as a donation to the Potter Animal League. We provided a $250 check to Newport Artillery Company in support of this historic organization and had the privilege of meeting at their armory, which houses a fascinating museum and is the oldest military unit in the U.S. still operating under its original charter from 1741.

Rotary in Action

The Middletown Rotary Club hosted a breakfast conversation with Senator Jack Reed at the Wyndham hotel on March 25th 2024.

"Partying for a Purpose" Our 29th annual Steakout fundraiser is our primary means of supporting a variety of community initiatives, including summer camp scholarships for children in need, the new Read and Feed program at the library—which encourages young readers and benefits pets at the Potter League—and our Interact club for teens.

The Middletown Rotary Club and Middletown High School have partnered to recognize students who exemplify the principles of Rotary through their commitment to community service. Honorees are students who have demonstrated, throughout their high school careers, the values that define a true Rotarian, with "Service Above Self" at the heart of this recognition. On October 9, 2024, we proudly presented our inaugural Service Above Self award. This distinction will be given monthly to students who consistently embody the spirit of community service and set an inspiring example of leadership, compassion, and dedication to others—a reflection of what it means to be a Rotarian at heart.

The Interact club crafted uplifting messages for the coat drive, placing them in the pockets of the collected coats to bring some sunshine to the recipients' day.

Disasters remind us of the importance of community, and today, the Middletown Rotary Foundation proudly sent $4,000 to the Rotary Club of Asheville, NC, to assist in their ongoing disaster relief efforts following the devastation of Hurricane Helene. Six weeks after the storm, the recovery is far from over. As Rotary Club of Asheville President Eva-Michelle Spicer shared, "Six weeks later and it’s still devastating." In the aftermath, their club has worked tirelessly to rebuild and restore: ✅ Delivered a trailer with a water filtration system to an early learning center, providing clean water for 300 families and enabling the center’s kitchen to reopen for cooking. ✅ Distributed water bags to families in need. ✅ Picked apples, cleaned up streets, and restored buildings to bring their community back together. We’re inspired by their incredible efforts to bring hope and healing, and we’re honored to contribute to this mission of service. This is ServiceAboveSelf in action.

Service project at All Saints STEAM Academy on 7/22 2023

Working hard to help make the coat drive a success

After doing food drive at staples on a saturday afternoon, we continued the food drive for the rest of the month of June into July at the YMCA.

The INTERACT club at work. Preparing for the Community Coat Drive by decorating dropoff boxes. Look at these fantastic dropoff boxes and a huge pile of uplifting Pocket notes for the coats!

Middletown Rotary's first coat drive ever.

Newport Mental Health is a 501(c)3, charitable non-profit and a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic that provides mental health and substance use treatment to those who live, work, and study in Newport County, regardless of their ability to pay. Programs and services are offered for children and adults; immediate access to care is available by calling 401-846-1213. We delivered over 75 adult and child coats and a hug box of hats, mittens and scarves to NMH on November 30, 2023 as part of our Community Coat Drive. Here are Cori and Janice with members of the NMH team after delivering the coats to be used on their Mobile mental health crisis van.

Our club members are converting a 1994 Rockwood Popup Camper into a mobile kitchen to use at our fundraisers and service projects. They are documenting the transformation here.

This album will contain descriptions and photos of our newly inducted Middletown Rotarians.

Last night, our Rotary club celebrated the end of the year with a memorable evening. The weather was perfect as we began with a social gathering on the oceanview patio at the Newport Wyndham. The evening's program included reflections from our outgoing Presidents, Janice and Tom, featuring a slideshow and song highlighting our community activities over the past year. This was followed by remarks from our incoming District Governor, Sharon Johnson. The highlight of the evening was the installation of our new Presidents, Chris and Angel, and the new slate of officers, led by our Rockstar Assistant Governor, Betty Galligan. Finally, we were charmed by the warmth of the final remarks made by Chris and Angel, setting the stage for the year to come.

Last night was nothing short of spectacular as Middletown Rotarians came together to volunteer at the local ballpark for the Newport Gulls game! The weather was perfect, and the free admission for little leagues brought an energetic crowd to Cardines Field. The atmosphere was electric, filled with fun, excitement, and community spirit. ⚾️🎉 We were thrilled to see so many smiling faces and to be part of such an amazing event. A huge thank you to everyone who attended and made the night unforgettable! Here are some highlights from the game – enjoy! 👇

We braved the weather and made a splash at the park and beach cleanup this afternoon! Huge thanks to everyone who joined us – your commitment to keeping our environment clean is truly inspiring! Special shoutout to the Middletown High School Service Club helpers as well as members and friends of the MIddletown Rotary Club. 👏 📸 Check out this shot of some of our soggy but smiling crew. Together, we're making a difference, rain or shine.

On July 10th, our club met at the historic Artillery Company of Newport's renowned armory and museum. Established in 1741 under the charter of the Rhode Island General Assembly during King George II of Great Britain's reign. The Artillery Company holds the distinction of being the oldest military unit in the United States still operating under its original charter. Our evening was unforgettable. Dr. Murray Norcross Jr. MD guided us through the museum, showcasing artifacts spanning from the Revolutionary War to present day. Highlights included Paul Revere forged cannons and a fully operational World War II jeep. Middletown Rotary Co-President Angel Gonzales presented a check to Dr. Norcross from the club. A huge thank you to Dr. Norcross for the engaging tour and to everyone who joined us for this enriching experience!

On the beautiful weather day of April 22nd, the Interact Club hosted its first ever independently organized "Island Youth Earth Day Cleanup" at the Gaudet Middle School and Sports Complex. Collaborating with the MHS Service and Environmental Clubs, The YMCA, and the Middletown Tree Commission, the event featured the distribution of free seedlings. Around 25-30 students, young adults, and adults joined forces to engage in a thorough cleaning session. Their efforts were both highly necessary and well done, resulting in a successful cleanup initiative.

On November 1, 2023, Anton Joseph Suppiah, the President of the Abbeville Rotary in District 1520, paid a visit to the Middletown Rotary Club, accompanied by his wife Micaela and his daughter Constance Thieffry, who resides in Warwick. During his visit, Anton shared some insights about his Rotary club, situated in a small city, which boasts a membership of 39 individuals. He particularly highlighted their beloved annual salmon sale, a remarkable event where they managed to sell over 2000 pounds of salmon last year. The proceeds from this event were dedicated to supporting a pediatric hospital unit. To commemorate their meeting, they graciously offered gifts from France and a decorative banner to our club as a symbol of their Rotary fellowship.